Unassuming intermediaries

Freeing hostages in the Sahel: When negotiators come into play

in depth

This article is part of the dossier:

Kidnappings in Sahel on the rise

By Manon Laplace, Flore Monteau

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Posted on July 12, 2023 09:36

 Former French hostage Sophie Pétronin during a press conference in Bamako, 8 October 2020 ©Montage Jeune Afrique; AFP
Former French hostage Sophie Pétronin during a press conference in Bamako, 8 October 2020 ©Montage Jeune Afrique; AFP

Each hostage release is the culmination of a slow and discreet mediation process, conducted by intermediaries with a variety of profiles. Among them are a handful of seasoned negotiators.

Hostage-taking in the Sahel, the nerve centre of Jihadist expansion (2/3)

The hardest part is the waiting. And the silence. The families of the hostages say so. Many watch the months, often years, go by, hoping to see their loved ones regain their freedom.

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